After reading some books and browsing the Internet, I have come to discover that plain old white distilled vinegar is an amazing product. It is inexpensive, nontoxic, and can be used for so many different things around the house and yard, not to mention in the garage. Below is a list of some of the ways you can use vinegar in place of more expensive, and possibly toxic products:
1. Clean pen marks off of painted walls by dipping a cloth into vinegar and dabbing in onto the marks. Repeat until the marks disappear.
2. Clean your piano keys by mixing half a cup of vinegar with 2 cups of water. Use a soft cloth and wring it out thoroughly before wiping down the keys. Use a dry cloth to remove the moisture and then leave the keyboard uncovered for 24 hours.
3. Clean your computer, printer, keyboard, and other home office gear by mixing an equal part of vinegar and water and wiping them down. Be sure to shut them off first and wring out your cloth well so water doesn’t damage the circuits inside.
4. Get rid of the cigarette smoke smell from inside your home by pouring some vinegar into a bowl and setting it in the room with the strongest odor. Within a day the odor should be gone. If the smell is really strong, set out a few bowls.
5. Remove salt from your boots by wiping it off with a cloth soaked in vinegar. No need to dilute the vinegar.
6. Clean your windshield wiper blades by wiping them down with full strength vinegar.
7. Clean your refrigerator by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar. To prevent mildew growth, use full strength vinegar when cleaning the inside walls and inside the bins.
8. Disinfect your wood cutting boards with full strength vinegar after each use.
9. If you park your car outdoors, prevent your car windows from frosting up by spraying a mixture of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water onto the outside of your windows. It should last for a couple of weeks.
10. Clean your microwave by placing a glass bowl filled with a quarter cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water inside. Turn on your microwave to the highest setting for about 5 minutes and once the bowl cools, use the liquid to sponge away the grime.
11. Treat a cold sore by dabbing it with a cotton ball soaked in vinegar 3 times a day. The vinegar will soothe the pain and swelling.
12. Cleans porcelain sinks and bathtubs by scrubbing them down with full strength vinegar and then rinsing with cold water.
13. Prevent brightly colored clothing from running during the first few washes by soaking the new clothing in full strength vinegar for 10-15 minutes before their first washing.
14. If you bright colored garments are beginning to fade, brighten them up by adding half a cup of vinegar to your machine’s wash cycle.
15. Get rid of dandelions and unwanted grass by spraying them with undiluted vinegar both at their midsection and lower down so it can soak into the roots.
16. Remove rust from your tools by soaking them in vinegar for several days. This also works for corroded nuts and bolts.
17. Protect your cat or dog from fleas and ticks by using a spray bottle filled with equal parts of vinegar and water and apply it directly to their coat and rub it in well. Cats are less likely to cooperate, as they really hate the smell of vinegar.
18. Disinfect your toilet bowl by pouring 2 cups of vinegar into the bowl and letting it soak overnight before flushing.
19. Tenderize meat by soaking it in about 2 cups of vinegar overnight It will break down the tough fibers. Rinse before cooking.
20. To prevent bruising and speed healing after a fall, so a piece of cotton gauze in vinegar and leave it on the injured area for about an hour.
If you are interested in learning about other things you can do with vinegar, there is a website devoted to just that. They have come up with 1001 uses in fact. Check out www.vinegartips.com.
1 Comment
I’ve heard of most of these methods for using white vinegar, but I have never heard of it with cold sores and I’ve researched all the ways. I’m going to have to give this a try.